UK Defence Capability: "How well is the United Kingdom prepared, in terms of defence & security, for the challenges and threats that lie ahead?”.
In January 2017, the House of Lords debate on Defence Capability, initiated by Lord Robertson, revealed a number of areas for the United Kingdom to consider two years after the last Strategic Defence and Security Review in 2015. In this panel discussion, CCW brings together members of the House of Lords who participated in the original debate to engage in a discussion about the threats we face, the issues that concern us from a defence and security point of view, and the implications for future planning. The panel will be chaired by Lord John Alderdice and will include representatives from the three main political parties.
Lord Alderdice is a psychiatrist by profession, but as Leader of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland, he played a significant role in the Talks on Northern Ireland including the negotiation of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. He was the first Speaker of the new Northern Ireland Assembly and has held many international positions including as President of Liberal International, the global network of more than 100 liberal political parties.
Since 1996 he has sat as a Liberal Democrat life member of the House of Lords, and is currently Director of the Centre for the Resolution of Intractable Conflict at Harris Manchester College, Chairman of the Centre for Democracy and Peace Building in Belfast, and Presidente d’Honneur of Liberal International.
